Mail-pouch



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-S11eet 1.

L. B. LATHROP.

. MAI'L POUCH.

Patented Sept. 7, 1886.

oooo Ok E E OQO o O O Nv FETERS` Fhmm-ullwgmpner, wnhington, D. C.

(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2. L. B. LATHROP.

MAIL POUCH.

No. 348,678. Patented Sept. 7, 1886.

PATENT OFFICE.

LEVI B. LATHROI, OF HOLLISTER, CALIFORNIA.

MAIL-POUCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.

348,678, dated September 7, 1886.

Application filed January 9, 1886. Serial No. 183,140. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEVI B. LATnRoP, of Hollister, San Benito county, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Mail- Pouches; and I .hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

VMy invention relates to certain improve ments in mail-pouches, in which I provide a more ei'iicient and rapid system of unlocking and opening, and closing and fastening, the mouth of the pouch, a means for holding` the direction-card holder, and a means for suspending the pouch so as to be filled, and a means for making the pouch dust and water tight, and utilizing the full size of the pouch.

My invention consists of a llap extending beyond one side of the mouth of the pouch, so that it may be folded over upon the opposite side, and rigidly 'lixed staples projecting from this side and entering corresponding sockets in inclosing-caps, which are secured to the iiap, a sliding stra-p having pins secured to it, so as to move within the caps and engage the staples, and a holding and locking device upon one end of the sliding strap, by which all the pins are retained in their places when the pouch is closed, and the address or direction card also locked into place.

u the pouch which had been left open.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of my invention, Figure 1 is a view of the bag with the mouth open. Fig. 2 shows the bag closed. Fig. 8 is a section taken through a part of the sliding strap and the lock, showing the interior construction. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 represent details of construction.

A is a bag or pouch which is riveted or otherwise secured, so as to have sufficient strength and to be tight, along the edges up to a point within a short distance of the top. At this point is inserted a gore, B, of leather, upon each side, the edges of which are strongly riveted to the edges of that portion of the top of The bight or fold of this gore is then stitched throngh,so as to insure its always being folded inwardly, and prevent its turning out beyond the sides of the pouch when the latteris closed. This gore allows the mouth of the pouch to be well opened for the insertion or removal of its contents, and when the pouch is closed and locked forms a very tightjoi1it,which will prevent the entrance of water or dust at this point. One side of the top is continued above and beyond the other, so as to `form a iiap, O, of considerable breadth, which maybe folded over upon the other side. This shorter side, over which the flap folds, is provided with staples D at short intervals. These staples are formed with, brazed to, or otherwise secured to plates which are riveted or fastened to the front of the bag, so that they stand rigidly erect. These staples are also formed so that their lower sides are inclined or beveled, as shown in the drawings, `for the purpose of drawing all the caps down over the staples at once, as will be more fully described hereinafter. The flap C, which folds over, has slots made in it to correspond with these projecting eyes or staples, which will thus pass through the slots and will enter corresponding slots in the metal of the caps or open heads E, which are secured to the outside of the ilap as follows: F is a strap of belt-leather, which I use, because in the process of tanning and preparation this leather is stretched until it cannot be extended any more, and will thereafter retain its length always the same. This strap is firmly riveted to the upper side of the ilap. The caps E have one end riveted through this strap F in the ilap, as shown, and the other ends of these caps are bent downward and riveted to the lower edge of the lflap, so that between the lower edge ol the strap F and the lower ends of the caps a broad slot is formed, through which the sliding strap Gr may move. This strap lits the spaces or slots so as to slide easily. The caps E are made thicker atthe point where the sockets for the reception of the staples are formed, and holes are made through them transversely with the sockets, as shown at H.

In order to allow the strap to slide freely, slots or openings I are out out at the points where the sockets are made in the caps, so that the leather of the strap slides upon each side of these soekets,and the remainder of the strap E is not cut at all. Pins J, having an enlarged head or plate, are riveted to the strap at one end of the openings I, the pins extending into the holes II, so as to never be entirely withdrawn from them, and they are thus guided so that when the strap is slipped back and forth they are withdrawn from the sockets, into which the staples enter, or are moved across them. It will be manifest from this construction that it will be impossible to bend these pins, as they are always supported at each end, and when the strap is moved so as to lock the pouch the pin is supported upon each side of the narrow socket into which the staple enters, and the portion passing through the staple is so short that it is impossible to bend or break it by the application of any power short of destroying the whole bag. Ilhe last cap at one end ol" the flap is made without any socket to receive the correspond` ing staple, but is made in the form of a iiat piece of metal, strongly riveted near the end of the ilap, and having a slot through which the staple from the side of the pouch beneath passes.

Upon the end ofthe sliding strap G is strongly secured a lock, K, which has a socket formed in it, into which the staple may pass. This lock K may be of any suitable construction, having a spring-bolt, L, which passes through the staple, so as to secure the lock firmly in its place.

In order to make the lock automatic, I have shown the device with au arm, M, which, when the bolt is withdrawn, is forced forward by a spring, so as to engage the bolt and hold it back. This arm projects into the socket of the lock sufficiently, so that when the lock is dropped down over the staple the staple will force the arm to one side, thus releasing the bolt and allowing it to immediately shoot through the staple. This locks all the pins upon the strap in their place through the sockets, and, together with the lock, forms a secure fastening for the mouth of' the pouch. rIhe strap G is also made ol' belt-leather, the same as the part F, so that it will not stretch, and the relative position of the pins J, the caps E, and the sockets will always remain the same. The sockets in the caps are made to lit over the inclined or beveled lower sides of the staples, as shown in Fig. 4L, so that when the flap is folded Vdown the staples enter the sockets simultaneously, and when' the pins are foreed'through them by the movement of the strap Gthe inclined surfaces of the staples and the sockets serve to draw the ilap down and hold it very securely in place. The fold of the flap over the gore-pieces at the sides of the opening causes a very tightjoint at thispoint, which will not admit water or dust under ordinary conditions.

rlhe case for the reception of the address or ndirection tagis made'in two or more pieces, or

by foldinga single piece of metal, the upper or top portion of which is eut away so that the card may be slipped iu from one end and exhibited, as shown at N. The lower end of this holder is closed. The upper end opens near to the staples upon which the lock is secured but there is sufficient space at this point, so that the leather can be bent or folded so as to remove the staple out of line with the opeiiing in the'holder temporarily. rllhc card may then be slipped in or out readily, and when the pouch resumes its normal position the staple stands in line with the card,so that it can not be removed. It will thus be seen that when the iiap has been folded over and locked in place the upper end of the case which holds the direction-card will be closed, so that the card cannot be removed. By this construction the manufacture of the case is very much simplified. It is always securely fastened to the pouch, and is in no danger of beingtwisted off orlost, and it is easy to remove or replace the card when the pouch is open, but impossible when it is closed.

\Vhen it is necessary to fill the pouch,I have provided a ring, O, which is secured to the edge of the fiap near the center in any suitable manner` By this ring the pouch may be hung upon any suitable hook or peg of sufficient strength, and the gores allow the mouth of it to fall open,so that it is very convenient of access.

rlhe usual strap for carrying and handling the pouch may be secured to the back of it.

I am aware that inail-pouches have been made with a folding flap and a sliding strap, with tongues which engage staples so as to secure the flap, and a keeper folding over the whole. I do not therefore claim this as myinvention; but

XVhat I do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A mail-pouch constructed as shown and having the gered pieces fitted into the upper edges of the sides, in combination with a flap or extension from one side of the top folding over the upper front edge, and the portion thus thickened, and having an auto` matic locking device, whereby a tightjoint is made at the fold and edge, substantially as herein described.

2. In a mail-pouch, a flap or extension fromone side of the top which foldsover the other side and has secured to it plates or bars with sockets formed in them, in combination with staples secured to the front of the bag so as to stand rigidly erect and having their lower edges or surfaces beveled or inclined, so as to engage corresponding inclines in the sockets,- substantially as herein described.

3. rIhe caps secured to the ilap, having sockets formed centrally in them, holes passing transversely through the caps and thc lower parts of the sockets, in combination with a slotted strap moving beneath the caps and having secured to it pins or bolts, thc ends of which enter the holes and pass through the sockets, and the staples or eyes secured to the front side of the bag, substantially as herein described.

4. The caps having centrally-formed sockets which fit over and inelose the staples se cured to the front side of the bag when the flap is closed, and pins or bolts secured to the sliding strap so as to be passed through the sta- IOO ples or he withdrawn therefrom, said strap being slotted so as to slide beneath the caps and form a stop, whereby the ends of the bolts are prevented from being entirely Withdrawn from the holes in the caps.

The folding flap having the socketed caps secured t0 it, the sliding strap and bolts to engage staples which project into the sockets from the front of the bag when the flap is closed, in combination with a socketed lock secured to the end of the strap so that the last staple at one side of the lap will enter the socket when the strap has been moved, so as to lock the remaining portion, and a sliding bolt which enters the loop, passing` across the socket, substantially as herein described.

G. rllhe sliding strap provided with bolts which pass through sockets in the caps, beneath which the strap slides, and through staples which project into said sockets from the front of the bag when the flap is closed, a lock secured to the end of the strap, and having a socket, which also ts a staple proj eeting from the front of the bagl through the Hap, a

springbolt to engage this staple, and an arm or stop which holds the bolt back and is released by the action of the staple entering the socket, substantially as herein described.

7. In a inail-pouch, and in combination with a folding flap, sliding bolt-strap, lock and staple, as shown, a tag or direetion-label'ease secured below and in line with the lock of the staple, so that its upper end is covered and 

